Black Sheep Coffee
{{Short description|British coffeehouse company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Black Sheep Coffee
| image = File:Black Sheep Coffee Bishopsgate.jpg
| image_caption = A Black Sheep Coffee branch in Bishopsgate, London
| logo =
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| foundation = {{ubl|{{start date and age|df=yes|2013}}|London, England}}
| founders = Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth
| location = Stockwell, London, England
| key_people =
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = Coffee shop
| products = Coffee, tea, sandwiches, sweet snacks and iced drinks
| locations =
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| website = {{url|https://blacksheepcoffee.co.uk}}
}}
Black Sheep Coffee is a British coffeehouse chain headquartered in London, England.
History
Black Sheep Coffee was founded in 2013 by Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth who had been flatmates together at the University of St Andrews.{{cite web |last1=Bamford |first1=Vince |title=Black Sheep Coffee continues UK expansion drive |url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/foodservice/black-sheep-coffee-continues-uk-expansion-drive/677431.article |website=British Baker |access-date=29 April 2023 |language=en |date=20 March 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Denham |first1=Katherine |title=Black Sheep on stirring up the coffee industry, volcanic plantations, and helping the homeless |url=https://www.cityam.com/black-sheep-stirring-up-coffee-industry-volcanic/ |work=City A.M. |date=7 May 2019}} In 2014, they raised £23,000 on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter.{{cite web |title=Coffee chain Black Sheep raises new funding as it plans international push |url=https://www.ft.com/content/231a0c54-90dc-11e9-b7ea-60e35ef678d2 |website=Financial Times |access-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230317174859/https://www.ft.com/content/231a0c54-90dc-11e9-b7ea-60e35ef678d2 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |date=17 June 2019}}
In June 2019, Black Sheep Coffee raised £13 million, bringing the total raised to £19 million, all from private investors and valuing the business at £109.2 million. Later that year, Black Sheep took over eight stores from rival Taylor St Baristas which was entering administration.{{cite web |last1=Cherubini |first1=Elena |title=Black Sheep Coffee expands London footprint with Taylor St Baristas cafes acquisition |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/mergers-and-acquisitions/black-sheep-coffee-expands-london-footprint-with-taylor-st-baristas-cafes-acquisition/596000.article |website=The Grocer |access-date=29 April 2023 |language=en |date=25 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=James |title=London Coffee Juggernaut Will Revive Taylor St Baristas in the City |url=https://london.eater.com/2019/8/29/20838366/taylor-street-baristas-london-cafes-black-sheep-coffee-administration |website=Eater London |access-date=29 April 2023 |language=en |date=29 August 2019}}
In 2021, Black Sheep received investment from basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis, to support expansion into the US.{{cite web |title=Black Sheep coffee to double in size with... |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/black-sheep-coffee-kristaps-porzingis-nba-expansion |website=The Caterer |language=en |date=21 October 2021}} In 2022, the UK government became a shareholder in Black Sheep Coffee when it was backed by the Future Fund, a scheme to support companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |title=UK Treasury takes stakes in Bolton Wanderers and Black Sheep Coffee |url=https://www.ft.com/content/175150f0-1c14-43af-8058-9136104653bd |work=Financial Times |date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220127093001/https://www.ft.com/content/175150f0-1c14-43af-8058-9136104653bd |archive-date=27 January 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Middleton |first1=Joe |title=Covid loans make UK taxpayers shareholders in cannabis oil firm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/05/covid-loans-make-uk-taxpayers-shareholders-in-cannabis-oil-firm |access-date=29 April 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=5 August 2022}} By March 2023, Black Sheep Coffee had more than 50 locations in the UK.
Products
Black Sheep Coffee is known for using robusta coffee beans in its premium coffee, "at a time when everyone believed 100% Arabica to be the only premium species of coffee".{{cite web |last1=O'Conor |first1=Lottie |date=14 May 2015 |title=How to start a ... coffee shop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/may/14/how-to-start-coffee-shop-business |access-date=29 April 2023 |website=The Guardian}}
Its shops offer a range of barista prepared coffees, smoothies, pastries, bagels, toasties, and Norwegian waffles. A number of shops serve alcohol of an evening, including espresso martini cocktails.{{Cite web |title=Black Sheep Coffee {{!}} Battersea Power Station |url=https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/retailers/black-sheep-coffee/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=batterseapowerstation.co.uk |language=en-GB}}
Black Sheep Coffee's beans are available to purchase in-shop and online.
Locations
File:Black_Sheep_Coffee_East_Putney.jpg
File:Black_Sheep_Coffee_Fulham_Broadway_(2).jpg
Black Sheep Coffee's shops are mostly concentrated within London, England, where it is headquartered. As of May 2023, 43 of its shops are located within London and 26 are located elsewhere in the United Kingdom.https://leavetheherdbehind.com/blogs/locations/tagged/status-open++
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Black Sheep Coffee shops worldwide !Country !Number of locations |
| {{flagu|United Kingdom}}
|69 |
| {{flagu|France}} |
| {{flagu|Philippines}} |
| {{flagu|United States}} |
| {{flagu|United Arab Emirates}} |